Sealing battery terminal



Nov. 25, 1941.

J. J. PAITERNO 2,264,183 1 SEALING BATTERY TERMINAL I Original Filed July so, 1940 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALING BATTERY TERMINAL Joseph John Paterno, Salem, Mass.

Original application July 30, 1940, Serial No.

1941, Serial No. 386,270

lClaim.

My present invention relates to storage batterles, and more particularly to'a protecting and sealing device carried by the battery cables, which device is automatically eifective on the battery terminal post when the cable is attached.

This application is a divisional of my prior and copending application Ser. No. 348,380, filed July 30, 1940, now U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,237,630 dated April 8, 1941.

As fully explained in my said prior application, it has heretofore been difiicult to prevent corrosion of battery terminals and connections from storage batteries, particularly those used in automobiles, which are under constant agitation and vibration and are exposed to weather conditions, so that the acid from the battery is liable to leak out by the terminals and corrode the cable connections.

My present invention is directed to a simple and efiicient sealing and protecting device to prevent such corrosion and to seal the opening from the battery thru which 'the terminal post projects, such sealing device being carried by and attached to the terminal clamp on the cable to be attached to the post. Thus, as the cable is applied to and clamped upon a terminal post of a battery, my invention provides means carried by. said clamp to automatically eiiect and complete the sealing operation.

In my said prior and copending application, I have claimed the protecting and sealing construction broadly as carried by a device adapted to fit on the battery terminal; and in the present application I have claimed the invention as carried by the connecting cable and its clamp.

Referring to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

Fig. l is a view partly in cross-section of the clamp and sealing member attached to the terminal post, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my cable terminal clamp and sealing device carried thereby.

As shown in the drawing, a casing l-is indicated for a typical storage battery, and projecting thruanopeninginthecasing i isaterminal post 2 extending from one of the cells indicated at 3 within the casing, said casing containing an electrolite 8. 'Ihe post 2 has a shouldered portion 4 of greater diameter than the opening thru the casing, and adapted to be in engagement with a gasket 6 between the shoulder and the inner surface of the casing I to provide a relatively tight joint. 1

The post 2 is threaded at its lower portion to receive a clamping nut 9 which thus holds the Divided and this application April 1,

post 2 in assembled position with the casing i. The upper part of thepost 2 is adapted to be engaged by the terminal clampcarried by the electric cable Ill, said clamp I2 being fitted on the end of the cable and comprising a split-ring clamping portion adapted to encircle the post 2 and adapted to be held by a bolt ll passing thru.

openings in the outer end l6-l6 of the clamp, said bolt having a head l9 and a nut 19 to be tightened against the outer end I6 to efifect the clamping action.

My present invention contemplates the formation of the clamp l2 with a grease-carrying receptacle adapted to hold and carry a quantity of grease II, which will effect a sealing and protecting action around the opening thru which the post 2 emerges from the casing I, as electrolite escapes thru this opening in spite of the 25, leaving a ridge 2| above said web so as to also receive and hold a quantity of grease il above said web and within the confines of the rim 2!.

A plurality of openings 21 thru the web 20 permits grease to be applied on the top of the web and to be forced or to flow thru the openings 21, thus filling the interior between the nut 8 and the outer walls of the member, while effecting a retaining and protecting receptacle for the grease I1 therein.

By my present invention, the simple application of applying the clamp to the post, either with the grease ll filling the member 25 before or after such clamping application, the sealing and protecting operation is completed. Preferably, I form the web 20 somewhat dishedso that the grease applied on top of the same will flow into and thru the openings 21. The normal heat from the battery when in service aids in maintaining the grease insealing condition and protects the clamp and terminal from corrosion by escaping gases from the electrolite within the battery.

I claim:

A cable having a clamp adapted m be a to a terminal post of a battery, said clamp having a grease-holding and protecting receptacle for sealing the battery opening about said terminal post, said receptacle being in the form of a hollow member to encircle the battery post comprising a laterally extending web portion and a downwardly extending rim portion adaptedto contain a quantity of grease therein, the web v 

